Archives for June 30, 2014

Jerilyn (Jeri) Logemann, ASHA 1994 and 2000 president and a world-renowned researcher in speech-language pathology, died at age 72 on June 19, 2014, in her home surrounded by friends.

After obtaining her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University, Logemann joined the faculty and became one of the most influential leaders in her field. A prolific scholar, she contributed groundbreaking books, journal articles, workshops, conference presentations and seminars on the management of voice disorders, normal swallowing physiology, and the assessment and treatment of speech and swallowing in patients with head and neck cancer and those with neurological impairments.

Logemann was the Ralph and Jean Sundin professor of communication sciences and disorders at Northwestern University, and professor of otolaryngology and neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she directed the Voice, Speech and Language Service and Swallowing Center.

A pioneer in the development of techniques for effective assessment and treatment of speech and swallowing disorders, she—with Hilda Fisher—developed the Fisher-Logemann Test of Articulation Competence, and she developed the modified barium swallow test. Regarded as the leading authority in swallowing disorders, her research was continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies for more than 30 years. Always concerned with improving speech-language pathology clinical service, Logemann formed the Clinical Sciences and Disorders Clinical Trials Research Group in 1995 to assist in the design and conduct of large-scale treatment studies of speech, language, learning, voice, swallowing, hearing and balance disorders.

Logemann was a Fellow of ASHA and the Chicago Medical Society, and received ASHA Honors, the association’s highest award. She served the university as chair of the department, and twice as chair of the Northwestern University Faculty.

Logemann’s relentless passion and commitment to her work; skilled leadership; inventive, indomitable and optimistic spirit despite relentless physical challenges; and her loyalty and generosity will be sorely missed by her patients, students, friends and colleagues.

She is survived by her cousin, Ruth Fruland, of Sheridan, Ill.

Gifts in her memory can be made to the Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinical Trials Research Group:

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